Cigarette lighter



June 30, 1953 w. s. NlssLY CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed March 28, lso

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Zafzzer 5. 7255x955 A'llll ATTE! RN EYB June 30, 1953 'w S NlssLY 2,643,930

CIGARETTE LIGHTER i Filed March 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATI'DRN EYB Patented June 30, 1953 vf'l 2,643,930

" CIGARETTE LIGHTER i Walter S. Nissly, York, Pa. "I Application Marolles, 195o, serial Norisa'tis This invention relates to a l Y. 4and more particularly tofa combinationmgarette holder` and lighter, and its-adapted tube 'usedinavehicle.` f' V u The object of theinventionr 1s to provide a smoking appliance,

1 claim; (Greiz-s4);

l' combination cigarette holder and lighter whichV is adapted tov be positioned in a vehicle, such as 4ah"automobile', Vwherebyoccupants offftho vehicle 'can readily obtain a lighted` 'cigarette whenever desired.

4Anotherobject ofthe invention is to' provide a cigarette holder and lighter-which is adapted to fbe manually actuated` to dispense' cigarettes one at a time, the cigarettesthat are dispensed being Ilighted and ready to be smoked. 1

A furtherobject of the inv'entionfis to provide -`a combinationcigarette holderfandlighter which v'is extremely simple and inexpen'sivetomanufacture.'v f i Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the followingdescription. In the accompanying drawings'for'ming a part of this application, and vin which like numerals oro'usodjto designato like parts throughout the same: o

`Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the vcigar- -rette holder and lighter of thepresentinvention;A Figure 2 "is a top planview of the cigarette 'holderand lighter;

' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on-line 3-3 f ofFigurel; n u I v Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-74 of Figure'l;` f .K

`Figure 5 is aside elevational view of the com bination cigarette holder and lighter; n

Figure 6 is a sectional viewv taken onv line 6-6 y Figure '7 is an enlarged secto'nalxview taken on Figure 8 is a sectional Viewitakenton` line 8-8l vofligure3; 1

Figure 9 is a sectionalview takenvonline 9-1-9 OffFgure; l ,1. x y. .r

Figure 10. is .a sectionalwiew taken on -line Ill-IllofFigureB. o l, -K

Referring vin detail tothe drawings, the,.nu meral20designates a housingwhichis made of a suitable non-(':oncluctivek materialfsuch asa suitable plastic, and the housingwZincludes'a front wally 2| and aback'wa'll 122.1"The'housing 20 further includes spaced,` g parallel, vertically disposed side walls 23, and a top wall or cover 25 is secured to the upper endv ofthe back wall'22,

'Figure 4. These walls coact to 4deiinefar compart- .ment l24| for vholding*af'pluralityof cigarettes. A

horizontally vdisposed shaftl orpiny l26 extends be'- 'tween the side walls 23a-nd is rotatably'supportred thereby,` so thatin order to fill the compartment 24 with cigarettes, 'the back wall 22 and cover 25 can be pivoted or swung 'in a clockwise direction away :frorntthefront wall 2 l "i Thecigarette holderand lighter of the' present invention is yadapted'to be used or attached to a vehicle, such as anautomobile. The mechanism of thepresent invention may be attached to the dashboard, th-e steering` column of the vehicle, Aor maybe arranged in the rear portion of the vehicle. However, itis to be understood that the lighterrand holder of thepresent invention is not to be restricted for use in anautomobile, but may also be used in homes Aor onan office desk,

f as desired.

Mounted on'the shaft`2l` is "a feeder drum or roller 21 whch'is provided with aplurality of 1ongitudinallyA extending, spaced, `parallel recesses 28 for receiving cigarettestherein. A manually operable means is y'provided for causing the roller 21 to rotate one-quarterv of a'turn at a time, so that one cigarette at a' time is dispensed from the compartment 24. This meanscomprises a yratchet wheel 29, F'gure, which is secured toan of the' housing 20, Figure 1. The plate 32 is slidably arranged in ya channel y that is formed in thecasing33. i' f The lcasing 33 is also madev of a non-conduc-l tive material, such as a suitable plasticgwhile the plate 32 is made of metal for a lpurpose 'to be later described.' A springmember 136' is secured to the plate 32 byr a" suitable securing elegaging knob 39 on its outerprojecting endif.' A n coil spring 40 iscircumposed on the'plunger 39 to normallyurge the plunger 38 to itsfouter-" `most position. Thus, uponinward movement or depression of the y,plunger 38by pressure from the users finger on the knob,v 39, the plate 32 cani be reciprocated or slid inwardly inthe channel 35 v so as to cause the follower cam 30 to rotate the v ratchet wheel 29 which results `inthe feederroll- 'er 21 being rotatedy one-'quarterfof Ia `turn A'to Securedtothe front end of the plate 32is 3 thereby dispense one cigarette from the compartment 24.

The casing 33 is also provided with a passageway 4|, and a conduit 42 is adapted to connect one end of the passageway 4| to a suitable vacu- 5 um source, such as the intake manifold of the automobile engine. A valve 42, Figures 3 and 10, normally blocks the passageway 4|, but upon inward depression of the plunger 38 by the users finger, the valve 42 is moved inwardly so as to permit vacuumatic pressure to be exerted throughout the passageway 4|. c Y v The valve 42 is provided with an opening 44 which is adapted to be arranged in registry with the passageway 4|, when the valve 42 is moved inwardly in its groove 43, the groove being arranged in the casing 33, A. coil spring 45 serves to normally urge the valve 42 outwardly, so that it is normally arranged in bridging 'or closing relation with respect to the passageway 4|; Projecting upwardly from the plate 32 and secured thereto is a bracket 46 which has a pin k41 mounted on its upper end. The pin 41 is adapted to move into and out of registry with an opening 48, so that the pin 41 can strike or 5 abut the front end of the valve 42 to move the valve 42 inwardly and permit the passageway 4| to be opened upon depression oi the plung- The lower portion of the rear wall 22 termi- "3'0 hates in an inclined partition 49, Figure 4, and the partition 49 serves to guide the cigarettes that leave the feeder .roller 21 to the vicinity of the lighter element 5|. A pair of supporting arms 50, which are arcuate in shape, are ar- '3'5 ranged on the lower end of the partition 49, and these arms 50 serve to support the cigarette C, Figure l, while it is being lighted by the lighter element 5|. The lighter element 5| is conventional and is electrically actuated or operated, the lighter element 5| including Aa coil 52, Figure 4, which may be electrically connected to the battery of the automobile.

A means is provided for actuating or energizing the coil 52 of the lighter element 5| when the plunger is depressed. A cable 53,which includes a pair of wires 54 and 55, has one end connected to the lighter coil 52. The wire 54 is connected to a contact 56, and the other end of the wire 54 is connected to a wire leading from thebattery of the vehicle. The other wire 55 has one end connected to a similar contact 51 and the other end of the wire 55 is connected to the heater' coil 5,2 which is grounded. Each of the contacts 56 and 51 is provided with a head on its upper end, and these heads are adapted to be bridged bythe plate 32 when the plungerSB is depressed, so as to complete the Velectric circuit leading to the lighter coil 5 2. The head on the upper end of the contact 56 is designated by the numeral 58, while the head on the upper end of the other contact 51 is designated by the numeral 59, As previously mentioned, the plate 32 is fabricated of a conductive metal, while the casing 33 is fabricated of a non-conductive material, such as a suitable plastic.

A vertically disposed side member 60 is detachably connected to the side of the casing 33 by suitable securing elements, such as screws 6|, Figure 5, so that the various parts of the combination cigarette holder and lighter can be readily assembled or disassembled when it is necessary to replace or repair any of the parts.

A means is provided for urging or moving the cigarette C into engagement with the lighter coil 52, and also for applying a slight suction or vacuum pressure on the end of the cigarette C, so as to facilitate the ignition of the cigarette when the plunger 36 is depressed, the plunger 38 being maintained in its depressed position during this entire operation. This last-named means comprises a body member 62 which is secured to the lower end of the casing 33 by suitable means, see Figure l. Adjustably mounted in the body member 62 is a sleeve 56, and a line or conduit 55 extends throughy a slot 64 in the body member 62 and communicates with the interior of the sleeve 66. The other end of the line 65 is connected to the passageway 4| in the casing 33. A thumb screw or set screw 61 is arranged in threaded engagement with the body f vmember 62, and the set screw 61 normally engages the outer surface of the sleeve 66. Thus, by'loosening the set sc rew 61, the sleeve 65 can be adjusted in the body member 62 so as to permit adjustment of this member in order to accommodate cigarettes of varying length.

Reciprocably or slidably arranged in the sleeve 66 is a piston 66, Figure 6, the piston 68 including a head 69 and a hollow stern 10 which is secured to the head 69. Arranged in threaded engagement with an end oi the stem 10 is a block 1| which is provided with a. tapered seat 12 that is adapted to engage the end of the cigarette C. Thus, when the plunger 36 is depressed, the passageway 4| will be opened so thaty vacuum pressure will be applied in the line 66 to thereby draw or move the head 65 of the piston 6I toward the end wall 1I ot the sleeve 66. The sleeve 66 and its end wall 1I are immobile or stationary at this time, so that the block 1| moves into engagement with the cigarette C to be ignited and urges the cigarette into engagement with the lighter coil 52 which has been energized by the previously-described electric circuit. A coil spring 14. Figure 6. is circumposed on the stem 10 for normally urging the piston head 69 away from the end wall 1I of the sleeve 6l.

A moons is also provided ior applying a slight suction to the end of the cigarette that is to be inserted in the users mouth so as to facilitate the ignition of the cigarette by the lighter coil 52, This means includes an aperture or opening 15, Figures 6 and 7, the aperture 15 being arranged in the hollow stem 1I. Thus, upon depression oi.' the plunger 36, there will be a. movement of the piston 68 and block 1| to urge the cigarette into engagement with the lighter coil 52. Simultaneously, there will be a slight vacuum or suction applied to the other end of the cigarette, since the vacuum will be applied through the line 65, then through the aperture .15, 'and through the hollow stem 10 and seat 12.

In use, the housing 20 can be attached to any suitable place, such as the dashboard, steering column or other part of an automobile. A plurality oi' cigarettes are arranged in the compartment 24 and then when the occupant o! the vehicle desires to dispense a lighted or ignited cigarette C, the plunger 35 is manually depressed by means of the knob 39. This movement of the plunger 38 causes several things to happen. First, it moves the plate 32 inwardly into the channel 35 so that the ratchet wheel 29 is rotated by means of the follower cam 36. This rotation of the ratchet wheel 29 results in the feeder roller being rotated one-quarter of a turn so that one cigarette, which is positioned in the recess 26, is deposited on the partition 49, and

-the supporting arms 50.

of the vacuum pressure in the passage 4l results in the head 69 of the piston 68 being moved or drawn-toward the end wall 13 of the sleeve 68, so that the block 1I engages an end of the cigarette C andmoves the cigarette C into engagement with the energized lighter coil 52. Also, at the same time, a slight vacuum is exerted on the Vend of the cigarette by means of the aperture 15, so as to facilitate ignition of the cigarette by the lighter coil 52. After the cigarette has beenproperly ignited or lit, pressure on the plunger 38 is released and the electric circuit will again open so that the lighter coil 52 will not be energized. The cigarette C can then be lifted from the supporting arms 50 and can be smoked as desired.

I claim:

In a cigarette dispenser for an automobile, a housing including a front wall, a back wall, a`

top wall secured to the upper end of said back wall, and a pair of spaced parallel side walls, there being a compartment arranged in said housing for'holding a plurality of cigarettes, a shaft extending between said side walls and rotatably supported thereby, a feeder roller mounted on said shaft for receiving cigarettes from said compartment, said feeder roller being'provided with a plurality of spaced parallel longin Y tudinally extending recesses, a casing arranged adjacent one side of said housing and secured thereto, there being a chamber arrangedA in said casing, a ratchet wheel mounted on an end of said shaft and positioned in said chamber, there being a channel arranged in said casing, a plate slidably arranged in said channel, a plunger arranged exteriorly of said casing and connected to said plate for causing sliding movement of the latter, a cam follower carried by said plate for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a spring for normally urging said plunger to its outermost Y position, a bracket projecting upwardly from said plate, a pin carried by said bracket, there being a groove arranged in said casing, said casing having a passageway extending therethrough and communicating with said groove, a valve slidably arranged in said groove and adapted to be actuated by said pin, said valve serving to selectively open and close said passageway upon actuation of said plunger, a conduit. for connecting one end of said passageway to a vacuumatic source, an electrically koperated lighter element supported by the lower endof said housing, an inclined partition for guiding a cigarette from the feeder roller towardv said lighter element, a pair of spaced arms arranged on the lower end of said partition for supporting vthe cigarette during the lighting thereof, a body lmember arranged along the bottom of said casing, a hollow sleeve mounted in said body member, a piston reciprocably arranged in said sleeve, a line connecting said rpassageway to said sleeve for causing selective reciprocation of said piston upon movement'of said valve by said plunger, anda bloot:` carried by said piston for urging an end of the cigarette into engagement with the lighter element upon `depression of the plunger. I

WALTER S. NISSLY.

References cited in the sie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,881 Mead Apr. 4, 1911 998,667 Baker rJuly 25, 1911 1,745,254 Green Jan. 28, 1930 1,802,629 Copeland Apr. 28, 1931 1,845,613 Mansbach et a1. Feb. 16, 1932 1,925,287 Snyder Sept. 5, 1933 2,182,955 Allen Dec. 12, 1939 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 286,339 Great Britain Mar, 5, 1928 346,920 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1931 

